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32 ROOF COATINGS 2018 COATINGSPROMAG.COM
Roof Restoration or Replacement?
By Gerr y Chavez, Marketing Leader, Henr y Roof Restoration
Photos Courtesy of Henr y Company
B
uilding owners and facility managers know that
eventually they'll have to face the prospect of
replacing their roof. is typically requires a large
capital investment and results in a signifi cant
disruption in the day-to-day activities of the facility.
Fortunately, in many cases there is a money-saving alter-
native to reroofi ng: roof restoration. Employing advanced
roof-coating technologies, such as silicone, acrylic, or alumi-
num, roof-restoration systems enable the facility's current roof
membrane to be restored at a fraction of the cost of roof replace-
ment, ultimately extending the roof membrane's life cycle.
is is not a one-size-fi ts-all solution, though. ere is
a window of opportunity for roof restoration that you need
to be aware of before it's too late. Generally speaking, if 25
percent or less of a roof needs to be replaced, then restoration
is a cost-eff ective option. But how can you know if your roof is
a candidate for restoration?
ere are four key steps that can help determine whether
roof restoration is an option for your client. If the roof 's degra-
dation is too far progressed for restoration, these key steps will
help you close the window of opportunity for this alternative.
Step 1: Information Gathering
The first step is to gather as much information as possible
about your client's building, and in particular, the current
roofing system in place. If necessar y, inter view the building
owner's team to determine the age of the roof, the ty pe of
roof system, and whether or not it is under warranty. You
will also want to gather information regarding the roof 's
repair and maintenance histor y, as well as locations of any
previous leaks.
Step 2: Visual Inspection From Below
T he next step is inspecting the condition of the underly-
ing roof deck. Depending on the building ty pe, it may be
possible to visually inspect the roof deck from inside the
building. T his process w ill identif y areas of water penetra-
tion, holes in the deck, rusted metal decking, and degrada-
tion of the existing roof deck. T he extent of damage noted
is important because it w ill help determine the financial
feasibility of restoration. Take detailed notes of all of
these areas.
Step 3: Visual Inspection From Above
T he next step is "walking the roof," obser ving its overall
condition and looking for confirmation of restoration
feasibility. Look for visual signs of surface degradation,
such as cracking, exposed reinforcement, and blisters on
the surface. Be sure to follow proper safety policies when
inspecting the roof.
A thorough evaluation of the existing roof surface
helps to determine the severity and scope requirements for
restoration. Look to see if membrane plies are delaminat-
ing, if seams are well-adhered, and if f lashings and drain
areas are intact. If signs of water intrusion exist, you may
want to have a thorough moisture scan done to identify the
locations and severity of the moisture intrusion.
Additionally, look for adequate roof drainage and signs
of ponding water, especially in areas where leaks were identi-
fied during your information gathering and inspection of
the roof support system underneath. An experienced profes-
sional can learn valuable information when walking a roof to
help determine its viability for restoration.
Roof Coatings
This is not a one-size-fits-all solution, though. There is a window
of opportunity for roof restoration that you need to be aware of
before it's too late.